My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Kyle Kendrick and the bullpen throw a six-hit shut out against the Cardinals as the Phils defeat the Cards, 4-0.

Kyle Kendrick throw seven shut out innings, before handing it over to the bullpen which threw two more scoreless innings, as the Phils defeat the Cardinals, 4-0.

The first three and a third innings of the game was a pitchers’ duel between Phils’ starter Kyle Kendrick and Cardinals’ starter Brad Penny, with Penny throwing three straight 1-2-3 innings, while Kendrick avoided trouble in the Cardinals’ second as, with a runner on second via a double to Colby Rasmus, and with one man out, Rasmus tried to steal third with Yadier Molina batting, and was thrown out, 2-5, for the inning’s second out. That would be important as Molina got on base with a double, which would’ve easily scored Rasmus from either second or third. The Phils took the lead in the fourth as, with a man on base, and with no one out, Placido Polanco hits a two-run home run, his fourth home run of the year, knocking in Shane Victorino, who had earlier singled, giving the Phils a 2-0 lead. The Phils increased their lead to 3-0 in the sixth as, Victorino hits a lead-off home run, his sixth home run of the season. The Phils added to their lead in the seventh as, with a runner on base, and with two men out, pinch hitter Greg Dobbs hits an RBI double, knocking in pinch runner Wilson Valdez, running for Juan Castro, who had earlier singled, giving the Phils a 4-0 lead. That would be the final score as Danys Baez and Jose Contreras together pitch a pair of 1-2-3 innings to end the game.

Kyle Kendrick receives the win as he pitches seven shut out innings, giving up only six hits and two walks, while striking out three. His record is now 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA. Danys Baez and Jose Contreras then follow by combining for two 1-2-3 innings, striking out a batter (Baez). Brad Penny took the lose as he pitches six innings, giving up three runs on five hits, while striking out six. His record is now 3-2 with a 1.99 ERA. Mitchell Boggs pitches an inning and a third, giving up a run on two hits and a walk. Dennys Reyes pitches two-thirds of an inning, getting out both men that he would face.

The Phils had seven hits in the game, with Victorino leading the team with two hits, a single and a solo home run, knocking in a run and scoring two. Placido Polanco, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Juan Castro, and pinch hitter Greg Dobbs had the other five Phils’ hits. Polanco’s hit was a two-run home run, knocking in two run. Utley, Howard and Castro each had a single, while Dobbs had a pinch hit double, knocking in a run.

The Phils (16-11, 1st East) will conclude their four-game set with the Cardials (18-10, 1st Central). The game will start at 1:05 pm Eastern and will be played at Citizens Bank Park. The Phils will send to the mound their ace Roy Halladay (5-1, 1.47), who is coming off a complete game shut out win against the Mets on May 1, where he gave up only three hits and a walk, while he struck out six, in the Phils’ 10-0 win. The Doc will be shooting for his sixth win of the year, while trying to give the Phils another series win. The Cardinals will try to counter with Kyle Lohse (0-1, 5.28), who is coming off a no-decision against the Reds on May 1, as he went seven innings, giving up a run on seven hits, while striking out eight, in the Cardinals’ 6-3 win. He will be trying to keep up with the Phils’ ace. The Phils will be trying to win the series, while trying to help Halladay tie for the most wins in the National League.

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